Altar opens on Church Lane in Leytonstone on 23 October 2026.
Dreamhouse Records will partner on a vinyl shop hosting releases and listening sessions.
A 100-capacity basement will host gigs and club nights, with free rehearsal space also available for local artists.
The new East London cultural hub opens on 23 October with cocktails, vinyl and an intimate basement venue.
Record collectors, cocktail drinkers and gig-goers will soon have a new address to add to their East London rotation. Opening on 23 October 2026, Altar will combine a bar, record shop and live music venue across two floors on Church Lane in Leytonstone. With local collaborators involved in everything from the drinks to the vinyl selection, the project puts neighbourhood connections at the heart of its plans.
On the ground floor, a tiled bar will sit alongside curved, wood-panelled banquettes and velvet upholstery. The combination sets the scene for a drink before a gig, although the cocktail list offers a reason to visit in its own right.
The team at Chop Shop Tavern has created the drinks menu, which takes some playful turns. A Caprese Gimlet combines gin with tomato, basil and black pepper, borrowing the flavours of the Italian salad. Meanwhile, the Chunk Sgroppino pairs liqueur and prosecco with lemon gelato from Leyton’s Chunk Provisions, giving a local business a starring role in the glass.
The food menu is similarly inventive, putting hot dogs centre stage and dressing them with an assortment of condiments and crunchy toppings. The banh mi version features pâté, kachumber, chilli-pickled carrot and crispy onion. Elsewhere, the currywurst comes with mango chutney, raita, kachumber and crushed poppadom.
Music runs through the whole concept. A small record shop, operated in partnership with Leyton’s Dreamhouse Records, will stock new and second-hand vinyl. New-release events and exclusive listening sessions will give visitors further reasons to browse the racks and discover their next favourite record.
Downstairs, the atmosphere shifts to exposed concrete and stainless steel. This basement space will accommodate 100 people for live performances and club nights, placing audiences close to the action.
Altar’s plans also extend beyond its public programme. Young local artists will have access to free rehearsal space, while facilities for recording live sessions and podcasts will support other creative projects. For a venue with a relatively small footprint, there is plenty on the agenda, from discovering music to making it.
Where: Altar, 7 Church Lane, Leytonstone, E11 1HG
When: Opens 23 October 2026
Contact: @altar_east